Working on drilling rig

I am new to this forum and I got an ICD implanted last October 2013 after a cardiac arrest.

I was working on an offshore drilling rig. I had done a new medical and that was all ok. The doctor wrote on that same certificate that "working in a surrounding with very weak electromagnetic field". When my company received this certificate they gave me my notice and told me that they couldn't guaranty my safety on board the rig. I had asked prior to get a test done but they didn't.

I have tried to get information about the electromagnetic interference from certain equipment onboard but no success.

I just wonder if there is anybody or knows somebody who is working on a drilling rig with an ICD???????

Andre

3 Comments

Rig Work

by Spin - 2014-02-06 08:02:53

Hi Andreas,

I'm an engineer in the oil industry too. I don't yet have a Pacemaker but I have a condition that might be fixed by having one implanted, so I am being very, very, cautious about what I am going to do.

With this in mind I have checked up on what I am/am not allowed to work offshore with. In my neck of the offshore woods the medical test states that an "ICD prevents you from working offshore". In other words the medical test itself states that having an ICD implanted will prevent you from working offshore. A PM is OK but you need to have a medical every year (as opposed to every other year). This is the case (as I understand it) because of the danger not of the ICD itself, but because of what potentially may happen to you prior to the ICD kicking in. If there is a danger that you may collapse, or experience syncope, then they don't want you on the rig. I imagine that should this happen at the top of the stairs to the drillfloor, or when pipe is coming through the V-door when you are on the floor, then the results could be very bad. The ICD may well kick in and save your life, but if you have collapsed then the danger is that you may be put into a dangerous situation.

You need to find out if the regulations for the medical that you take for your offshore certificate, prevent the use of an ICD. If they don't and the issue is only with the "weak EMF", then I would try to get your company to state exactly what equipment they are talking about. I imagine it could be some wireline runs and maybe magnetometer/accelerometers from the directional elements of the BHA. If you have been working offshore for a while I imagine your experience will enable you to work in areas that you will not be exposed to those risks: Shakerhouse, or on normal regular trips on the floor prior to the BHA.

Hope you get somewhere,

Spin

tjs

by tjs - 2014-02-06 08:02:59

Hi Andreas
I had the dubious pleasure of working offshore for almost 30 years, on production and drilling platforms, running Construction squads undertaking all manner of upgrades and modifications many involving 3.3 and 11Kv equipment. Most of the guys were blissfully unaware of the power requirements of equipment and of the cables routed above walkways etc. all out of sight / out of mind even when signed as HV Hazard. My last platform had five generators, each capable of pumping out 4 megawatt at 11000 volts. Normal operation required three online with two of them dedicated to supplying the two 3.3Kv Mud pumps and the Top Drive / drill floor. (with 440 Volt to the "minor" equipment)
Sorry to hear you were nrb but they have probably done you a favor.
Incidentally the platform operator / owners would almost certainly be taken to task by HSE under "duty of care" for allowing you onboard.
Also I remember a medivac flight taking 2hrs to deliver a heart attack victim to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
He was lucky and just made it

Independent comment

by donr - 2014-02-06 10:02:13

Spin, you triggered a few thoughts that may give some insight into your discussion.

We have had several posts from men who wanted to join some military service & were denied entry because of a PM/ICD implant. There are at least two active duty members of the US forces who were medically retired because of the devices.

I only know of ONE person who was ever allowed to stay in after getting a PM, & he was a very special case.

The armed services cannot afford to have us in them because we have to deploy to places where they cannot provide any medical support for the devices at all - too remote & the support required is too specialized and peculiar to the very small numbers of us that exist.

Knowing what life must be like aboard a drilling rig in the North Sea, I can see why they would be wary of sending out a person w/ an ICD. I'm really surprised that they allow PM's. All for the same reasons that military services don't allow them. They must have medical support aboard such rigs, as isolated as they are.

I know that the US has rigs 100 miles or more out in the Gulf of Mexico. I cannot imagine the issues of Medevac for their personnel. Problems of supporting healthy people in those places must be significant w/o the issue of someone perhaps being vulnerable to just the EMF environment.

People & EMF's must come close together frequently in such crowded places. You have to generate all your own power & it has to be transmitted all over the place, so I envision cableways in a lot of places where people must also travel.. Much like aboard a ship; probably a lot of 440 Volt cables for the heavy machinery. A big rig has got to be a power hog. There is no practical way you can shield all those cables to protect against EMF problems.

Don

You know you're wired when...

You participate in the Pacer Olympics.

Member Quotes

So, my advice is to go about your daily routine and forget that you have a pacemaker implanted in your body.